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#1 2012-08-02 19:19:17
- shep
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- Registered: 2009-08-04
- Posts: 33
Do developers Ever Roll Back packages?
I previously posted about an Issue with the OpenChrome video driver submitted a bug report to Arch.
Apparently I am not alone and 2 other users with the same video card are having the same issue. We were advised to submit the problem to upstream which, from my standpoint is ill advised - xorg requires an email address to register and warns that the email address is published. On top of this the xorg bug site has been down for 2 days.
I have been using the older video driver as a downgrade but suspect that this will not work forever -upgrades to the gcc, glib and xorg will likely eventually break the driver.
xf86-video-openchrome is common on low power via based motherboards although If I were to buy a newer low power mobo it would be intel or amd based.
I do need the laptop that is presently running Arch to work and having Arch, as opposed to Debian/Centos, is not worth running a Vesa driver.
Can anybody recall if the developers ever rollback due to buggy upstream code or maintain current versions of the older and newer driver?
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#2 2012-08-02 19:24:00
- litemotiv
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- Registered: 2008-08-01
- Posts: 5,026
Re: Do developers Ever Roll Back packages?
Can anybody recall if the developers ever rollback due to buggy upstream code or maintain current versions of the older and newer driver?
Absolutely, but usually only if it becomes impossible for users to keep using an older driver while upstream is considering/fixing the issue.
ᶘ ᵒᴥᵒᶅ
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#3 2012-08-02 19:25:37
- alphaniner
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Re: Do developers Ever Roll Back packages?
xorg requires an email address to register and warns that the email address is published.
Is there a reason you can't register with a throwaway address?
But whether the Constitution really be one thing, or another, this much is certain - that it has either authorized such a government as we have had, or has been powerless to prevent it. In either case, it is unfit to exist.
-Lysander Spooner
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#4 2012-08-02 21:10:12
- shep
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- Registered: 2009-08-04
- Posts: 33
Re: Do developers Ever Roll Back packages?
Is there a reason you can't register with a throwaway address?
It is an option although I would be specifically obtaining the throwaway address just for this purpose.
I have already registered on this forum plus FlySpray. I posted several log files on FlySpray and what I got for trying to help
was to have the Arch Maintainer punt it back to me and upstream. In his defense, he
probably does not have the hardware but he also knows that the package locks up a system.
Absolutely, but usually only if it becomes impossible for users to keep using an older driver while upstream is considering/fixing the issue.
This is essentially the case.
Last edited by shep (2012-08-02 23:31:15)
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#5 2012-08-03 01:56:08
- ngoonee
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Re: Do developers Ever Roll Back packages?
Upstream bugs are upstream bugs. Your 'trying to help' is only good if its in the correct place, its not the intention that counts after all....
Devs can rollback packages if they want to (relatively recently an epoch variable was added which makes that possible), but in this specific case I don't think there's any reason to hold back the package when upstream has knowingly released a package which is broken for a few users (otherwise known as deprecating support). Sucks to be a corner case, of course....
Allan-Volunteer on the (topic being discussed) mailn lists. You never get the people who matters attention on the forums.
jasonwryan-Installing Arch is a measure of your literacy. Maintaining Arch is a measure of your diligence. Contributing to Arch is a measure of your competence.
Griemak-Bleeding edge, not bleeding flat. Edge denotes falls will occur from time to time. Bring your own parachute.
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#6 2012-08-03 03:22:35
- Allan
- Pacman
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Re: Do developers Ever Roll Back packages?
My guess is that only the next xorg major update will break the driver. So there is no rush to downgrade in this case.
I think xorg uses git repos, so it should be reasonably easy to determine which commit causes the breakage. If that information was available, the developer might considered reverting that change until upstream fixes it.
But in the end, the people with the effected hardware need to report to upstream. It is useless the developer reporting it if they can not replicate the issue...
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#7 2012-08-03 09:45:12
- wonder
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Re: Do developers Ever Roll Back packages?
pushing a downgrade into the repos and having epoch your builds, is like having the shame stamp 
.
i for one, refuse to downgrade and i like to move only forward, even by applying a fix from upstream or by reverting a specific commit. Off course, we need your help to pin point the exact commit.
Give what you have. To someone, it may be better than you dare to think.
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